Fire extinguisher holder or support



Oct. 15, 1935. A DODEL|N 2,017,531

FIRE EXTINGUISHER HOLDER OR SUPPORT Filed June 29, 1954 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR 4 o-MW BY x/m'lw Q1 2 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 15, 1935. I F. A. DODELIN 7,

FIRE EXTINGUISHER HOLDER OR SUPPORT Filed June 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR Q7241 flmxwaan A/ y BY M,Q@4 ZMWJ ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES NT OFFICE FIRE EXTINGUISHER HOLDER OR SUPPORT Application June 29, 1934, Serial No. 732,977

3 Claims.

This invention relates to fire extinguisher holders or supports, and is adapted for use, especially although not exclusively, in instances where a fire extinguisher of a relatively heavy-duty typeis to 6 be carried by a vehicle, such as a commercial or other automotive truck, as part of its equipment.

An object of the invention is to provide a holder or support of the character mentioned which is simple in construction, and by which an ex- 10 tinguisher when not in use may be securely held in supported condition and by which the extinguisher may be easily and quickly released for emergency use.

Other objects and advantages of the inven- 15 tion will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing one form of the invention applied to a particular type of 20 fire extinguisher; Fig. 2 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 1 in the absence of the fire extinguisher; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of another form of the invention; Fig. 5 is a plan 25 view of the device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of another form of the invention; and

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6.

The invention to which this application is directed is adapted to be used with various forms of fire extinguishers, three of which are herein illustrated in outline in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 and are indicated by the numerals 5, 6 and 1 respectively. The form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 differs in certain details from those of Figs. 4 and 6, but 35 the three forms are fundamentally the same,

as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the numeral 8 indicates a base or support which is circular in form and is provided at its peripheral margin with a plurality of upstanding arcuate shaped flanges 9, each carrying at its outer margin a pair of upstanding arcuate shaped lugs It, the inner faces of said flanges 45 and of said lugs, respectively, being concentric to the base 8. The base 8 is provided, at points intermediate the flanges 9, with a plurality of openings l2 adapted for the reception of suitable fastening means, such as bolts I3, by which such base may besecured to a convenient part of a vehicle such, for example, as the running board of an automotive truck.

The types of fire extinguishers 5 and 6 shown in Figs. 1 and l, are adapted to rest directly on the base'8, and the type of extinguisher 1, shown in 5 Fig. 6 is adapted to rest on the flanges 9. By aid of the flanges 9, theextinguishers 5 and 6 may be easily centered on the base 8 preparatory to clamping the same thereon in the manner hereinafter more particularly described, whereas the lugs I9 10 serve a like purpose with reference to the type of extinguisher 1. In order to otherwise facilitate proper positioning of the extinguisher 6, its flanged base is provided with a peripheral notch H, adapted to receive the head-end of a bolt of the type indicated by the numeral 13' which is adapted to be substituted for one of the bolts I3 and projects above the base 8. As to the extinguisher 1, its proper positioning is facilitated by dropping its radially projecting foot-pieces H9 in the openings or notches provided for their accommodation intermediate the arcuate lugs if! on the base 8. Concerning the extinguisher 5, it will appear obvious that, because of its type, no'particular positioning thereof, except of course for centering, is required preparatory to clamping it on the base 8.

With the base 8 there is associated a yoke 29, the legs id of which are bent inwardly at their lower ends and are there pivotally connected to the base, whereby the yoke may be swung into and out of a straddling relation to the fire extinguisher. The yoke 29 is maintained in pivotal connection with the base 8 by suitable keepers, such as angle brackets I 5 riveted or otherwise suitablyconnected to the base and overlying the pivoted ends of the yoke-legs l4. 4

' When the invention is to be employed as a holder or support for a fire extinguisher of the type shown in Fig. 1, the yoke 29 is provided with a 40 clamp unit It which includes a pressure bar ll, carrying at opposite ends a pair of hooks I8, by which the clamp unit is pivotally connected to the upper end or bail portion of the yoke where it is held against removal by a pair of retaining screws 20 passing through opposite ends thereof. The pressure bar- I! is provided with an outwardly extending actuating lever 2| and 2. depending arm 22, to the latter of which is pivotally connected the central hub portion 24 of a pressure headfl such as a clamp spider 25, the radial arms 26 of which project upwardly and outwardly and normally impinge at their outer ends on the usual hand ring 21, with which extinguishers of the type shown in Fig. 1 are equipped.

From the above description, it will be understood that the fire extinguisher, preparatory to its being clamped in place, is placed centrally on the base 8, whereupon the yoke 29 is swung into a straddling relation to the fire extinguisher, after which the lever 2| is moved downwardly, thereby moving ,the clamp spider 25 into engagement with the hand ring 21. Upon further movement of the lever 2|, the clamp unit exerts a downward thrust or clamping action on the fire extinguisher. This thrust is maintained by reason of the fact that the clamp unit, upon being moved into position shown in Fig. 1, assumes a past-center position with respect to the common center line of the pivotal connection of the yoke 29 with the clamp unit I6 and of the pivotal connection of the yoke with the base 8, the movement of the clamp unit toward and into such past-center position being limited by reason of the fact that the upper end of the yoke serves as a stop with which the outer lug-like ends of the pressure bar I! are adapted to engage. v

To release the fire extinguisher for use, it is only necessary to lift the hand lever Zl to such an extent as to permit the yoke to be swung downwardly from its straddling relation to the fire ex tinguisher, thus leaving the fire extinguisher free to be unobstructedly removedfrom the base 8 for emergency or other purposes.

Aside from the fact that the screws 20 function to retain the pressure bar l1 against undue removal from the bail portion of the yoke 29, as hereinbefore explained, they are also utilized to compensate for any slight inequalities in manu facture of the device from a dimensionalstandpoint. Such compensating means will be understood as desirable when it is taken into account that the effectiveness of the clamping and holding action of the device depends in a large measure upon the proper dimensional relation between the overall height of the extinguisher and the distance existing between the point at which the yoke is pivotally connected to the base and the pivotal point of the clamp spider 25 at or about the instant the latter point passes its dead center position when looking the extinguisher in place on its support. By adjusting the screws 20 in one direction or the other, as when the device is initially adjusted for use with a given fire extinguisher, the distance between the two pivot points.

just mentioned may be increased or decreased as required in order to obtain an adequate holding effect of the clamp spider 25 on the extinguisher without unduly obstructing relatively free movement of the handle 2| to its locking position shown in Fig. l.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that the form of holder or support hereinbefore deindicated by the numeral 6 are equipped.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7. it will be noted that the form of holder or support shown therein is identical to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 insofar as all elements, other than the clamp unit l6", are concerned. As to the clamp unit I 6", it is substantially the same as the clamp unit 5 l6, already described, except that the groove 28' of the pressure bar I1" presents a contour conforming to and adapted to snugly fit or engage the style of pump handle 3 I, with which extinguishers of the type indicated by the numeral 1 are 10 equipped.

It will be understood that various changes may be made to render the invention especially adapted for use in connection with fire extinguishers of types other than those disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the-scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fire extinguisher holder comprising a base adapted to receive a fire extinguisher thereon, a yoke pivoted to said base and adapted to be moved into a straddling relation to a fire extinguisher supported on said base, a clamp unit pivoted to said yoke and adapted to be moved about its pivotal connection into engagement with the supported fire extinguisher and to be thereafter further moved toward and into a past-center position with respect to the common center line of its pivotal connection with said yoke and of the pivotal connection of said yoke with said base, whereby a clamping thrust is exerted on the supported fire extinguisher in the direction of said base and whereby said thrust is maintained, said clamp unit including variable means for adjusting said clamp unit radially with respect to its as pivotal connection with said yoke, whereby the clamping thrust to be maintained on the fire extinguisher by said clamp unit may be varied.

2. A fire extinguisher holder comprising a base adapted to receive a fire extinguisher thereon; a yoke pivoted to said base and adapted to be moved into a straddling relation to a fire extinguisher supported on said base; and a clamp unit including a pressure bar, and a pair of open hooks carried by said pressure bar adapted to receive said yoke and to afford a pivotal and slidable connection between said clamp unit and said yoke, said clamp unit being adapted to be moved about its pivotal connection with said yoke into engagement with the supported fire extinguisher and to be thereafter further moved toward and into a past-center position with respect to the common center line of the pivotal connection of said clamp unit with said yoke and of the pivotal connection of said yoke with said base, whereby arclamping thrust is exerted on the supported fire extinguisher by said clamp unit in the direction of said base and whereby said thrust is maintained, said clamp unit including variable means for adjusting said clamp unit radially with respect to its point of '60 pivotal connection with said yoke, whereby the clamping thrust to be maintained on the fire extinguisher by said clamp unit may be varied.

3. A fire extinguisher holder comprising a base I adapted to receive a fire extinguisher thereon; a '65 yoke pivoted to said base and adapted to be moved into a straddling relation to a fire extinguisher supported on said base; and a clamp unit including a pressure bar, and a pair of open hooks carried by said pressure bar adapted to receive said yoke and to afford a pivotal and slidable connection between said clamp unit and said yoke, said clamp unit being adapted to be moved about its pivotal connection with said yoke into engagement with the supported fire extinguisher and to be "(5 thereafter further moved toward and into a. pastcenter position with respect to the common center line of the pivotal connection of said clamp unit with said yoke and of the pivotal connection of said yoke with said base, whereby a clamping thrust is exerted on the supported fire extinguisher by said clamp unit in the direction of said base and whereby said thrust is maintained, said clamp unit including variable means for adjust- 1o ing said clamp unit radially with respect to its point of pivotal connection with said yoke, whereby the clamping thrust to be maintained on the fire extinguisher by said clamp unit may be varied, said variable means including a pair of bearing screws carried by said pressure bar and adapted to function as bearings and as thrust elements for said clamp unit as it assumes a clamping position on the supported fire extinguisher. 

